IBDP Global Politics - Advanced Theory & Conflict

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Distinguish between 'Negative Peace' and 'Positive Peace'.

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**Negative Peace** refers to the absence of direct violence or war, where conflict is merely suppressed (e.g., a ceasefire). **Positive Peace** implies the absence of structural and cultural violence, alongside the presence of social justice and institutions that resolve conflict constructively (e.g., integration, welfare). Galtung's framework is central here.

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Evaluate the effectiveness of 'Structural Power' versus 'Relational Power' in global governance.

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**Relational Power** is the ability of Actor A to get Actor B to do something they would not otherwise do (interaction-based). **Structural Power** is the power to shape and determine the political economy framework within which states and other actors operate (e.g., setting global trade rules). Structural power is often more durable and insidious because it defines the 'rules of the game'.

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Explain the concept of 'Sovereign Equality' versus the reality of the 'Security Council'.

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**Sovereign Equality** is a Westphalian principle enshrined in the UN Charter stating all states are legally equal. However, the **UN Security Council** permanency (P5) and veto power creates a legal hierarchy. This tension highlights the gap between *de jure* (in law) equality and *de facto* (in practice) inequality in global politics.

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Analyze the limitations of Liberalism in explaining 'Failed States'.

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Liberalism assumes that cooperation, institutions, and interdependence moderate state behavior. However, in **Failed States** (where state structures collapse), institutions often lack legitimacy or capacity. Liberalism struggles to explain environments where non-state actors employ violence outside the state's monopoly on force, or where 'anarchy' is not just between states, but within them.

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Define 'Cultural Violence' and provide a specific example.

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**Cultural Violence** refers to aspects of a culture that can be used to justify or legitimize direct or structural violence. It involves symbols, language, or religion that portray the other as inferior or dangerous. *Example:* Historical propaganda depicting ethnic groups as 'subhuman' to facilitate genocide, or religious edicts used to justify gender discrimination.